Profile
Biography
Dr Allison Singer is a Dance Anthropologist; Senior Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor; and University Lecturer. She has a background in Ethnomusicology, Dramatherapy, Community Arts, Performance and Yoga and integrates her skills and experience within her research, clinical and teaching work.
Allison’s PhD thesis (2007) looked at the interrelationships between Dance, Movement, Story, Visual Imagery and Folk Arts in Psychosocial work with War-Affected Refugee and Internally Displaced People in a Post-Conflict Zone (Serbia 2001-2). It was based on one year’s fieldwork in Serbia shortly after the end of the war in former Yugoslavia.
As a Senior Lecturer, Allison led the MA Dramatherapy Programme at the University of Derby (2005-7); and was a consultant and Visiting Lecturer for the then new MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy Programme at Edge Hill University (2013-14). Allison is currently a Research Supervisor for MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy students at the University of Roehampton; and a Visiting Lecturer for the MA Community Music Programme at the University of York. As a Researcher Allison has chapters in a number of edited collections; and has presented at national and international conferences and symposia.
Her current research concerns the psychotherapeutic use of the body, movement and the creative arts in work with people who experience complex trauma following war conflict, natural disaster and abuse.
Publications
Selected publications
Singer, A. J. 2020. ‘It’s Never Too Late’ - Understanding the Success of the Work of One Education’s Emotional and Trauma Support Team (ETS). Unpublished Report.
Singer, A. J. 2017. ‘Building Relations’: A methodological consideration of dance and wellbeing in psychosocial work with war-affected refugee children and their families. In: V. Karkou, S. Oliver, S. Lycouris ed. Dance and Movement for Wellbeing. Oxford University Press.
Singer, A. J. 2016. ‘Voices within Intercultural Arts Therapy Research and Practice – An Ethnographic Approach’. In: D. Dokter and M Hills de Zarate ed. Intercultural Arts Therapies. Routledge.
Singer, A. J. 2015. ‘Dancing Ourselves – The Personal Narratives of Dance: A Source for Healing’. In: Dunin, E. I. ed. Dance and Narratives, Dance as Intangible and Tangible Cultural Heritage. 28th Symposium of the ICTM Study group Study Group on Ethnochoreology, 7-17th July 2014, Korcula, Croatia. ICTM Institute on Ethnochoreology, Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research, Zagreb, Croatia, 2015.
Singer, A. J. 2014. Forced Displacement, Identity, Embodiment and Change. In: L. Dankworth and A. David ed. Dance Ethnographies and Global Perspectives. Palgrave, Chapter, 7.
Singer, A. J. 2008. Interactions Between Movement and Dance, Visual Images, Etno and Physical Environments in Psychosocial Work with War-Affected Refugee and Internally Displaced Children and Adults (Serbia 2001-2002). In: N. Jackson and T. Shapiro-Phim ed. Dance, Human Rights and Social Justice: Dignity in Motion. Maryland, USA: Scarecrow Press, Chapter, 22.
Singer, A. J. 2007. Hidden Treasures, Hidden Voices: An Ethnographic Study of Movement and Dance in Psychosocial Work with War-Affected Refugee Children and Adults (Serbia 2001-2002). De Montfort University: Unpublished PhD Thesis
Singer, A. 2006. Hidden Treasures, Hidden Voices: An ethnographic study into the use of movement and creativity in psychosocial work with war affected refugee children in Serbia. In: H. Payne, ed. Dance Movement Psychotherapy – Theory, Research and Practice. London: Routledge, Chapter, 7.
